THE GOD-MAN The Life, Journeys and Work of Meher Baba with an ...

THE PREPARATION 23Sai Baba does not appear to have written anything. Among his collected sayings, which have beenpublished, are 'I am Allah', 'I am Krishna'. 'All the universe is in me.' To his devotees he said 'Yourservants' servant, I am. I am your debtor. I am purified by your darshan. It is grace on your part tohave given me the sight of your feet. I am a worm in your excreta'.On beholding the white head of Sai Baba, who was at the moment in procession, Meher prostratedhimself on the road. When he arose Sai Baba looked at him and said, 'Parvardigar', which means'God-Almighty-Sustainer'. Meher went at once with Behramji to the temple of Khandoba, whereUpasni Maharaj was living under Sal Baba's guidance, naked and fasting. It was then the last monthof the year 1915.FIFTH SPIRITUAL MASTERThe part Upasni Maharaj played in Meher's life was decisive. Kashinath Govindrao Upasni wasborn on 15 May 1870, at Satana in the district ofNasik. His childhood was happy; he hated schooland was wholly religious-minded. When scarcely twelve years of age he resolved to lead theitinerant life of a monk, but his father was much disturbed and persuaded him to return home.After some time his parents married him, but within a couple of years his girl-wife died. At sixteenhe was married for the second time, but the marriage failed to remove his melancholy. His parents atlast gave in to his wishes, and he went to Poona to resume the life of a sannyasin. He practised greatausterities. At about twenty years old he shut himself up for one year in a cave on the top of amountain near Nasik. Later he went back to his family when he lost first his father, then hisgrandfather, and lastly his wife. Six months after, his mother and uncle got him married for the thirdtime; then he went with his wife to Poona and a number of other places. In Sangli there is the ShriDattagurn temple in which Kashinath stayed as a monk for two and a half years. During this periodhis food was mainly the leaves of certain trees; he only occasionally partook of grains and fruits.Soon after he went to Satara, to practise as an Ayurvedic doctor, where he became well known. Hegot tired of medicine and when about thirty-four gave it up, and for a couple of years passed thegreater part of each day in prayer and meditation.Some time later he went to Rahuri, in the district of Ahmednagar, where Kulkarni Maharajstrongly requested him to pay a visit to Sai Baba, but Kashinath declined. 'Why should I go to aMuslim', said he